For those who confidently stay in the saddle, who want to get out of the city in blossoming fields and olive groves, for fans of all new things.

Now Segovia is not only the administrative center of a small province of the same name but also a place of pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world. Why is this Castilian city so attractive? It’s all about its attractions. We will tell you about the three most famous of them now.

Aqueduct

Here is the longest surviving aqueduct in Western Europe. Its length is more than 728 meters. The aqueduct was erected during the reign of Emperor Vespasian in the first century AD. Although the exact date of construction is still unknown.

A curious fact – there was a legend in the city for a long time that the devil himself helped to build this aqueduct. According to residents, this was the case.

There lived in Segovia one poor girl who every day had to carry water to wealthy aristocrats. At some point, she was categorically tired of all this. Then she turned to Satan for help. The devil agreed to build an aqueduct and save her from the need to constantly carry water. The deal was quite standard: help in exchange for a soul. The girl without much thought accepted the conditions, putting forward one of her own – the work should be completed before dawn.

They shook hands, and the devil set to work. When the aqueduct was almost built, the girl sharply changed her mind. Does it happen to everyone? She prayed to the Holy Virgin Mary and begged for forgiveness. Prayer had an effect. The devil did not have time to finish the aqueduct and was left with nothing. And the inhabitants of Segovia received an unlimited flow of water from mountain rivers.

Information for tourists

Cost: absolutely free.

What to see: pay attention to the magnificent masonry. The aqueduct consists of 20,400 blocks, which are held at the expense of its own weight. In the evening you can watch the bats. They live in crevices between stones and often fly out.

How to get there: the aqueduct runs right through the city center, you definitely won’t miss it.

Alcazar Fortress

The magnificent Spanish fortress is located on a cliff near the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers. It was founded in the early 12th century. In the Middle Ages, Alcazar was the favorite residence of the Castilian kings. After the royal court moved to Madrid, the fortress became a state prison. This went on for more than two hundred years. In 1762, King Charles the Third founded an artillery school on the basis of the Alcazar. In the 20th century, the fortress entered already as the building of the Main Military Archive, and since 1953 it received the status of a museum.

Information for tourists

Cost:

Palace and Museum of Artillery – 5.50 euros;

Visit the highest tower – 2 euros;

Full ticket – 7.50 euros.

What to see: an arms exhibition, historical interiors, artworks.

How to get there: you need to move to the north-west of the city. The entrance to the fortress is located at Plaza Reina Victoria Eugenia

Cathedral of St. Mary

Segovia became home to the last Gothic cathedral of Europe. The fact is that it was founded only in 1525. The construction took more than 50 years. It so happened that by the time this large-scale construction project ended, the courtyard was already in the Renaissance.

The dimensions of the cathedral are impressive: 105 meters in length, 50 meters in width, 33 in height. The bell tower rushes into the sky at 88 meters. This is the highest point of the city. It can be seen from almost anywhere. Initially, it was even higher, since the top of the bell tower was crowned with a spire. But in 1614, lightning fell right into the tower, pretty scaring people and causing a fire. The townspeople considered this a bad omen and replaced the spire with a dome.

There is a museum at the cathedral, where you can see rare jewelry, medieval manuscripts and the pride of Segovia – the first book of the city in 1472.

Information for tourists

Cost:

The total ticket costs 3 euros;

On Sunday from 9.30 to 13.15 you can visit the cathedral for free.

What to see: be sure to pay attention to the stained-glass windows and wonderful arches. Visit the chapels and the local museum. Taking pictures inside is currently prohibited, but this rule is rarely respected.

How to get there: the cathedral is located exactly in the middle between the aqueduct and the fortress. It is very noticeable and you are unlikely to get lost. But as a guide, use this address: Calle del Marqués del Arco, 1.

How to get to Segovia?

There are three ways to get from Madrid to Segovia:

Intercity bus.

Buses leave the Principe Pio bus station every 30-60 minutes. It all depends on the time of day. The bus station in Segovia is located near the historic city center. Very convenient for tourists.

Train

There are two options: fast and cheap. You can take the ABE high-speed train, which leaves from the Estación de Atocha station. Only 30 minutes and you are in Segovia. But the problem is that the train arrives at the Segovia-Guiomar station, which is located a few kilometers from the main attractions. There, of course, there is a bus and a lot of taxis, but still not very convenient.

But if you get to the Chamartín station in Madrid and catch trains or S-8 lines, then the trip will take you a little longer, but all the fun will cost you about 6 euros one way.

Car

If you rent a car, you can get to Segovia by one of two toll roads (AR-6 / AR-61) or free (A-1).